Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among adults aged 18 and over:
Overall, diabetes has increased since 1997, but the rate has juggled up and down more recently. The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among adults aged 18 and over increased from 5.1% in 1997 to 9.2% in January–March 2013. That’s likely due to the parallel growth in America’s waistline, since obesity is a major risk factor for the disease. Promising research shows that dietary changes alone, however, can significantly cut a person’s chances of developing the disease.